Flat-Face Female Hydraulic Coupling for Pressure-Independent Manual Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat face female hydraulic couplings require shutdown and depressurization to manually couple due to the force generated by the size difference between the frontal axial surfaces of the valve sleeve, preventing effortless manual coupling with a flat face male hydraulic coupling.
Innovation Solution
The inner surface of the valve sleeve is designed with a surface normal vector perpendicular to the axial direction or equal to zero, ensuring equal frontal axial surfaces in both directions, canceling the resulting force and allowing for effortless manual coupling, along with a spring device to maintain the valve sleeve in the first position and a locking mechanism for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve sleeve has different sized frontal axial surfaces in opposite axial directions, then the coupling can maintain hydraulic pressure in the fluid chamber, but the force generated prevents manual coupling of the flat face male hydraulic coupling with the female hydraulic coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the valve sleeve with different sized frontal axial surfaces in opposite axial directions. This asymmetric design creates a force imbalance that prevents accidental opening while maintaining pressure, but the patent resolves the coupling difficulty by providing a separate actuating mechanism that overcomes this force only when intended opening is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve sleeve is segmented into functional zones with different surface areas. The first frontal axial surface has a different size than the second frontal axial surface, creating distinct pressure force characteristics for holding closed position versus allowing opening, thus enabling both pressure maintenance and controlled manual operation.
2Reliability
If the valve sleeve is composed of two sleeve parts that both need to be slid to the second position to open the coupling, then the coupling can be securely closed, but the complexity of operation increases and manual coupling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two separate sleeve parts into a single integrated valve sleeve structure. This unified design maintains the secure closed position through its asymmetric surface area configuration while simplifying the opening operation to a single actuation movement, thereby reducing structural complexity and operational difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve sleeve performs multiple functions: it maintains hydraulic pressure through its asymmetric geometry, provides a secure closed position, and enables simple manual opening through a single actuation point. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate sleeve parts while achieving both security and simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A flat face female hydraulic coupling includes: a body with a continuous passage extending in an axial direction; a valve stem coaxially arranged in the continuous passage of the body; a valve guide coaxially arranged in the continuous passage of the body, the valve guide being sealed against a surface of the continuous passage, the valve guide including a central passage; and a valve sleeve arranged slidingly in the axial direction between a first position and a second position, the valve sleeve being guided by the valve guide, the valve sleeve being sealed to the valve guide in both the first position and the second position and sealed to the valve stem in the first position, a passage being provided between the valve stem and the valve sleeve in the second position. In the first position of the valve sleeve a fluid chamber is formed.